Redistricting for 2024-25
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FAQ's
The District has not adjusted the elementary attendance areas in more than 10 years. On October 10, 2023 the Board of Education approved an agreement with the redistricting consultant, RSP & Associates, with the goal of improving the enrollment capacities at all of our elementary schools, which will help us maintain equitable and reasonable class sizes.
Two different boundary plan concepts (maps) will be released to the public on February 23, ahead of the public input opportunities.
Students in the Spanish or French Dual Language Program will stay with the program. The decision on where the program is housed (Thomas Paine or Yankee Ridge) will be made by the Board of Education.
Background: On Jan. 9, 2024 the Board of Education approved unifying the District’s K-5 Spanish strand model into a whole-school model.
- It is what the French/Lingala families would like to see happen for their children.
- It provides a multicultural space across an entire building that supports the three pillars of dual language education.
- Provides an opportunity for professional development that is specific to the
needs of dual language learners across an entire building. - The multilingual model creates a considerable appeal to recruiting staff that want to feel they are supported within a truly multilingual building.
Yes, a survey will be sent to all staff and families closer to the public input dates. That survey will remain open until March 15.
You can view the recording here: RSP Public Input – Feb. 29, 2024
Join us for Welcome Night at your school on the following dates:
- Thomas Paine on May 2 from 6-7 p.m.
- King School on May 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Dr. Williams on May 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Leal on May 14 from 6-7 p.m.
- Yankee Ridge Dual Language (Spanish and French) on May 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m
The Board of Education voted on October 3, 2023 to reopen Wiley as a 6th Grade Center for the 2025-26 school year.
District Communication
Urbana School District has been working with RSP & Associates on a new elementary boundary plan that will create more balanced student attendance areas. On April 16, 2024 the Board of Education voted on and finalized the elementary redistricting plan for the 2024-25 school year: Board Approved Boundary Map. To see which school your student will attend next year, please view the attendance map.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Yankee Ridge Elementary will be a Dual Language School. All students in the Spanish or French Dual Language Program will attend Yankee Ridge.
Background
Two different boundary plan concepts* (maps) were created by RSP. Those maps can be viewed below. RSP presented a final Boundary Plan to the Board of Education for a first read on Tuesday, April 2. The Board voted on a new elementary boundary map on April 16, 2024. The new attendance zones will go into effect for the 2024-25 school year.
*Based on feedback from the public input sessions and the first survey, RSP made minor revisions to the maps. Both versions can be found below.
Public Input
March Pubic Input Session
A third public input session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Dr. Williams Elementary. RSP will discuss changes based on feedback from the survey and the February public input meetings.
A new survey will open on March 26 and remain open until April 1.
You can view the recording and the presentation from the March 26 meeting here:
February Public Input Sessions
There will be opportunities for public input on the new boundary plans and recommendations on February 28 and 29 in the Urbana High School Commons from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This is your opportunity to review the proposed maps and share your thoughts. You can view the RSP Presentation here: RSP Public Input Presentation
If you were unable to attend the RSP Presentation, you can view the recording here: RSP Public Input Night – February 29, 2024
In order to provide multiple ways for families to engage in this process, an electronic survey is being used to collect feedback. The survey will open on February 28, after the public presentation from RSP, and remain open until March 15.
Timeline
Background
- Equitable experiences in culture and climate between kindergarten through fifth grade
- Equitable access to parent engagement opportunities
- Equitable access for dually identified students
- Equitable access to high quality, research-based resources needed
- Ongoing embedded professional development opportunities, also offered in Spanish. This is also a positive for recruitment and retention. The whole-school model will also allow for better collaboration between staff, since the program will not be split between buildings.
With the board’s approval, the French Dual Language Program will join the Spanish Dual Language program to create a multilingual school.
At the April 16 Board meeting, the decision will be made on where the Dual Language program will be located.
Reports/Data
A 6th Grade Center will open for the 2025-26 school year in the Wiley School building. The construction is currently in design phase (as of March 2024).
In March 2023, the USD116 Board of Education charged district administration with forming a District
Facilities Planning Committee to advise the Board on the future programming for Wiley School. The
committee was charged with reviewing the comprehensive needs of the district while also considering
the financial resources expected to be available to the District for renovation and expansion of the Wiley
School building.
As part of the comprehensive examination to best meet the needs of the entire district, the committee
will consider, but not be limited to, the following:
- Reopening Wiley Elementary as a neighborhood elementary school
- Reopening Wiley as a newly themed elementary with a specific focus (e.g., International
- Baccalaureate, Balanced Calendar, Magnet School)
- Reopening Wiley as a second middle school campus (e.g., a 6th Grade Center, specialized 6, 7,
- 8th Grade Center)
- Reopening Wiley as a whole school Dual Language campus
The committee included representatives from each elementary school, UECS, Urbana Middle and High schools (i.e., teachers, support staff, parents, and/or administrators), the Urbana Education Association, District Administrators, and members from the Board of Education.
The Board of Education voted on October 3, 2023 to reopen Wiley as a 6th Grade Center for the 2025-26 school year.
During the 2022-2023 academic school year, Urbana School District 116 consulted with Systemic Equity, LLC to conduct a comprehensive equity audit. The purpose of the Equity Audit was to identify those areas of strength and areas for needed improvement when it comes to our efforts to advance educational equity; with particular attention to traditionally marginalized groups.
Over the course of 12 months, the consultant conducted focus groups and administered surveys to various stakeholders including students, staff, and families. Additionally, the auditor examined our historical data in critical areas of discipline, student achievement, attendance, etc.
The USD116 Equity Action Plan (EAP) was formed as a direct result of the Equity Audit and developed in collaboration with members of the District Equity Leadership Team (DELT). The EAP is an accountability framework to identify, measure and sustain actions to advance equity. It is a collaborative process developed with district stakeholders and relies on a systemic commitment to best serve all students. All findings in the EAP are categorized using an accountability framework – Five Strands of Systemic Equity© – which serves as a roadmap to educational equity.
More information on Equity efforts can be read on the USD116 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page
It has been more than 10 years since Urbana School District has gone through the redistricting process.
Redistricting will address enrollment balance issues within a few areas of our community where student enrollment continues to grow and other areas where enrollment is flat or decreasing.